News

January 2017 Featured Volunteer: Jessica Ortiz Sanchez

Monday, December 12, 2016

Donna Ellsworth

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, Inc.

Jessica Ortiz Sanchez completed Law School in Puerto Rico while her husband was serving our country in Iraq. She is licensed in Puerto Rico and the USDC Western District of Oklahoma, has moved five times in 10 years, worked in Federal civil service term appointments, volunteer and paralegal positions, and other non-legal careers.

On August 2012, her husband's career with the Army brought Jessica to Oklahoma. It was then she joined the Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN), a bar association for military spouses that advocates for licensing accommodations for military spouse attorneys. Jessica led the MSJDN Oklahoma Rule Change Team and with the support of the Comanche County Bar members, and on May 2013, she presented a report to the Oklahoma Board of Examiners with a proposed Rule granting a temporary permit for military spouse attorneys to practice law while in the state due to military orders. The Board of Examiners supported the request and on December 15, 2014, the Oklahoma Supreme Court adopted the rule allowing for temporary permits for military spouse attorneys.

The new rule is now part of Section 7 of Rule Two and section (f) of Rule Seven, Rules Governing Admission to the Practice of Law in the State of Oklahoma. This new rule makes Oklahoma the twelfth state to enact a policy reducing licensing barriers for military spouse attorneys. Moreover, with this rule Oklahoma demonstrates, once more, its meaningful support for military families.

On April 2015, Jessica became the first attorney to use the new Military Spouse Rule in the state of Oklahoma. She is honored to join the Oklahoma Bar and proud to be part of this effort which removes barriers to employment for military spouses in the state of Oklahoma. Jessica has her private practice in Lawton and works for the Oklahoma Child Support Service, Lawton Office.